Ceramic adhesive

Abstract

A ceramic adhesive comprises a ceramic matrix formed from a mixture of a metallic oxide and an alkali silicate in water, and silicon carbide whiskers dispersed within the ceramic matrix. Further, a ceramic adhesive comprises a ceramic matrix formed from a mixture of magnesium oxide in the range of about 50% to about 80% by weight and sodium silicate in water in the range of about 50% to about 20% by weight, and silicon carbide whiskers dispersed within said ceramic matrix, the whiskers being in the range of about 3% to about 25% by weight of the ceramic matrix. A ceramic adhesive of the present invention is particularly useful in mounting and bonding in-cylinder sensors to steel internal engine parts.

I claim: 
     
       1. A ceramic adhesive, comprising: a ceramic matrix, said ceramic matrix being formed from a mixture of a metallic oxide and an alkali silicate in water; and   silicon carbide whiskers dispersed within said ceramic matrix;   wherein said ceramic matrix is formed from a mixture, comprising, in the range of about 50% to about 80% by weight metallic oxide and in the range of about 50% to about 20% by weight alkali silicate in water, and said silicon carbide whiskers being present in the range of about 3% to about 25% by weight of said ceramic matrix; and   wherein said metallic oxide is selected from a group consisting of magnesium oxide, aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, silicon dioxide and mixtures thereof.   
     
     
       2. A ceramic adhesive, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ceramic matrix is formed from a mixture, comprising, about 63% by weight metallic oxide and from about 37% by weight alkali silicate in water, and said silicon carbide whiskers being present in about 10% by weight of said ceramic matrix. 
     
     
       3. A ceramic adhesive, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said metallic oxide is selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide, zirconium oxide and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       4. A ceramic adhesive, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said metallic oxide has a particle size in the range of about 0.1 μm to 20 μm. 
     
     
       5. A ceramic adhesive, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said alkali silicate in water is selected from the group consisting of sodium silicate in water and potassium silicate in water and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       6. A ceramic adhesive as set forth in claim 5, wherein said alkali silicate in water has a specific gravity in the range of about 1.37 to 1.42. 
     
     
       7. A ceramic adhesive, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said alkali silicate in water has a viscosity in the range of about 300 centipoise to 800 centipoise. 
     
     
       8. A ceramic adhesive, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said alkali silicate in water is sodium silicate in water. 
     
     
       9. A ceramic adhesive, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said sodium silicate in water has a specific gravity in the range of about 1.37 to 1.42 and a viscosity in the range of about 300 centipoise to 800 centipoise. 
     
     
       10. A ceramic adhesive, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said sodium silicate in water has the formula (Na 2  O) x .(SiO 2 ) y .(H 2  O) z , the ratio of y:x is in the range of about 2.8:1 to about 3.6:1 by weight and the ratio of z:(x+y) is in the range of about 0.3:1.0 to 0.5:1.0 by weight. 
     
     
       11. A ceramic adhesive, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the ratio of y:x is about 3.3:1 by weight and the ratio of z:(x+y) is about 0.4:1 by weight. 
     
     
       12. A ceramic adhesive, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said silicon carbide whiskers have a length in the range of about 10 μm to 150 μm, a diameter in the range of about 0.1 μm to 1.0 μm, and a length to diameter ratio in the range of about 200 to 600. 
     
     
       13. A ceramic adhesive, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said silicon carbide whiskers have a length of about 125 μm, a diameter of about 0.3 μm, and a length to diameter ratio of about 416. 
     
     
       14. A ceramic adhesive, as set forth in claim 1, Wherein said ceramic adhesive has a coefficient of thermal expansion in the range of about 9 μm/m.°K to 14 μm/m.°K. 
     
     
       15. A ceramic adhesive, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ceramic adhesive has a porosity less than about 40%. 
     
     
       16. A ceramic adhesive, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ceramic adhesive has an average pore diameter in the range of 0.05 μm to 0.10 μm. 
     
     
       17. A ceramic adhesive, comprising: a ceramic matrix, said ceramic matrix being formed from a mixture, comprising, in the range of about 50% to about 80% by weight magnesium oxide and in the range of about 50% to about 20% by weight sodium silicate in water; and   silicon carbide whiskers being dispersed within said ceramic matrix, said whiskers being in the range of about 3% to about 25% by weight of said ceramic matrix.   
     
     
       18. A ceramic adhesive, as set forth in claim 17, wherein said magnesium oxide has a particle size in the range of about 0.1 μm to 20 μm. 
     
     
       19. A ceramic adhesive, as set forth in claim 18, wherein said magnesium oxide has a particle diameter in the range of about 0.3 μm to 3.0 μm. 
     
     
       20. A ceramic adhesive, as set forth in claim 17, wherein said sodium silicate in water has a specific gravity in the range of about 1.37 to 1.42 and a viscosity in the range of about 330 centipoise to 760 centipoise. 
     
     
       21. A ceramic adhesive, as set forth in claim 17, wherein said silicon carbide whiskers have a length in the range of about 10 μm to 150 μm, a diameter in the range of about 0.1 μm to 1.0 μm, and a length to diameter ratio in the range of about 200 to 600. 
     
     
       22. A ceramic adhesive, as set forth in claim 17, wherein said ceramic adhesive has a porosity less than about 40%, and an average pore diameter in the range of 0.05 μm to 0.10 μm.